CONFRONTATION IN THE GULF

CONFRONTATION IN THE GULF; All the Fashion Rage in the Desert: The Coveted Olive Green Parka

By JUDITH MILLER, Special to The New York Times

Published: January 8, 1991

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 7—
The most chic article of war garb is definitely the parka. The nylon-lined, waterproof cross between a safari jacket and a poncho is the hottest item being distributed to soldiers here in the northeastern Saudi desert, and for those in the first "combat pools" of reporters who will follow them in case of war.

The much-coveted speckled, olive green parka belts at the waist, swoops down in the back with a slip that can be tied at knee length, and in the front, at mid-thigh level. The most sartorially splendid here predict that knock-offs at army-navy and Banana Republic stores across America can only be a month or two away.

The jackets are so popular that many of the 70 male and female reporters selected for the seven combat pools are busy concocting elaborate stories of loss or theft to keep them after their combat pool duty is over, rather than turn them in for distribution to the next group of journalists scheduled for duty later this week.

The jacket is not only the rage among Americans. British soldiers have recently been spotted in them, thanks to the hot trade in desert ware that has developed between some of the more than 35,000 British soldiers and soon to be 430,000 Americans deployed throughout this region. Putting on 40 Pounds

Other parts of the desert war uniform have less appeal. Over the weekend, reporters assigned to combat pools with ground forces struggled to master slipping into gas masks in less than nine seconds, and worked at quickly putting on helmets, flak jackets, backpack straps, canteens, belts, parka pants (that match the jacket), goggles, gloves, and boots -- which collectively weigh about 40 pounds per person.

While the parka would look "awesome," as soldiers here are fond of saying, either in Dhahran or in the streets of SoHo back home in New York, the same cannot be said for the dark green helmets that also come with this job.

The helmets, which weigh almost five pounds each, are painted dark olive green and are made of Kevlar, a carbon-based material strong enough to deflect bullets and shrapnel that would otherwise easily pierce a skull in combat.

"The helmet really brings it all home," said Col. Bill Mulvey, the army officer who is director of the military's joint information bureau in Dhahran. "You know this is serious when you put that on." Acronyms Spoken Here

Communication between the more than 500 reporters currently registered to cover the American buildup here has not always been easy. When, exactly, the military lost its ability to speak English is hard to say. But the language spoken by these mostly cheerful men and women in khaki camouflage uniforms and black combat boots bears little resemblance to the American uttered by most folks at home.

"Is that Arabic?" one newcomer asked. "No, it's militarese." Slang and verbal shorthand are, of course, hallmarks of the brand of English spoken in the "U.S. of A.," but the military seems particularly afflicted by an acute case of acronymitis.

It all begins at the JIB's, the joint information bureaus established at major hotels in the largest Saudi cities. The JIB's are staffed by P.A.O.'s, or public affairs officers from Arcent, the Army's central command; Navcent, the Navy's; Centaf, the Air Force's, and Marcent, the Marines' center. The JIB coordinates dispersal of information about trips, photo opportunities, Congressional visits, and other key daily events of interest to the journalists lucky enough to have found a room at DIAH, the Dhahran International (Airport) Hotel. RONing in Riyadh

But instructions from the JIB can be daunting to the uninitiated. "Will you be RONing in Riyadh?" one soldier enquired. That's the verb the military has devised from its noun acronym -- remain over night. Those going out on combat pools will probably get to savor M.R.E.'s, or Meals Ready to Eat.

Of course, no one is permitted on an A.P.C., which every war movie buff knows is an armored personnel carrier, without his N.B.C. suit, masks and other protective covering for nuclear, biological and chemical attack, or alternatively, one's I.P.E., or individual protection equipment.

Despite protests, reporters assigned to combat pools are still being asked to take P.T. That's physical training. But there is one thing the military personnel do not have to worry about: they leave it to the Bush Administration to be "P.C.," or politically correct.